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Research conducted in the United States found that, in people with prediabetes, consuming lean beef did not generate worse metabolic indicators than chicken. The results reopen the debate about the role of red meat in human health.
For years, red meat has been at the center of nutritional controversy. It has been blamed for raising blood sugar and increasing the risk of diabetes, while chicken has been positioned as the “healthier” alternative.
However, a recent study calls this perception into question and suggests that, at least in the short term, there would be no significant differences between both proteins when it comes to unprocessed meat. (Read in WITHlivestock context: Trends in meat consumption in Colombia)
The research was developed by experts from the School of Public Health at Indiana University-Bloomington and the Illinois Institute of Technology, and its results were published in December in the scientific journal Current Developments in Nutrition.
No significant changes
The trial followed 24 adults with prediabetes, of whom approximately 70% were mens. For four weeks they ate raw, lean beef daily and then switched to raw chicken while maintaining the rest of their regular diet.
The menu included common preparations such as hamburgers, fajitas, burritos, stews and stir-fries. At the end of each period, the researchers measured blood glucose levels, insulin response, pancreas function, and the activity of pancreatic beta cells, considered a key marker in the progression to type 2 diabetes.
According to the results, blood sugar levels, insulin sensitivity, cholesterol and inflammation indicators did not show significant changes when comparing the consumption of lean beef with that of chicken.
“If eating beef worsened beta cell function, this would provide evidence to suggest it could be causing an increased risk of diabetes. We found no evidence of that in our study.“said Kevin Maki, principal investigator based in Illinois, in statements to Fox News Digital.
Scope and limits
The researchers emphasized that this was a short-term study and that only unprocessed meat was evaluated. Products such as bacon, sausages or delicatessen meats, which have shown a stronger association with adverse outcomes for health.
In the United States, the average consumption of unprocessed red meat is about 1.6 ounces dailyequivalent to approximately half a portion. For Maki, that level of intake may be appropriate within a balanced eating pattern.
“Our recommendation is to follow a healthy dietary pattern that emphasizes whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, seafood and healthy fats. Animal proteins, including beef, can fit that pattern“, he noted. (Read in WITHlivestock context: Rising meats and tight pockets: this is how prices arrive at Christmas dinner, according to DANE)
Experts who did not participate in the study agreed that longer research is required and with a more balanced sample between men and women. Dr. Mia Kazanjian, a radiologist in Connecticut, said that while raw beef did not worsen risk factors in the short term, it is still needed. long term data before making general recommendations.
Open debate
The study was funded by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, although the authors stated that the sponsor had no role in the collection or analysis of the data. In addition, the trial was previously registered in ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database that seeks to guarantee greater transparency in the publication of results.
Thus, far from closing the debate, the research contributes new elements to a discussion that remains open: rather than demonizing a specific food, the evidence continues to point to the importance of a balanced dietary pattern in metabolic health care.
